Matthew 19:23-30 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible"... Is it really so difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven? Actually, the Bible is filled with rich people. Abraham was a rich man; when Abraham went to a town, the Bible says that the whole town could not accommodate his possessions. Job was also a rich man; the Bible says that he had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred cows and five hundred donkeys. All these sounded pretty stunning! Of course there was King David and King Solomon, who are both rich men. So, why did Jesus say that it's hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven? The Lord actually meant that it's hard for those who depend on wealth to enter to the kingdom of heaven! These might not be rich people, because poor people might depend on money even more. They might work hard to make money more than looking upon and depending on Jesus. In Matthew 6:24, the Lord said: "No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and money." So, are we letting Jesus or money be our lord? When you guy things, what do you consider first - Whether you have money, or whether it's the will of God for you to buy it? Do you let money or God have the final say? We often unconsciously live under the authority of money; we buy things if we have the money, but we don't consider what the Lord thinks. It's not a surprise that Martin Luther once said that a Christian needs to repent in three ways - Repenting for the soul, repenting for the mind, and repenting for the wallet." As long as your heart depends on money, you cannot leave the authority of the world to enter the abundance of the kingdom of God. As soon as you depend on God and believe that His grace is sufficient for you, God can deliver you from worries, and let you experience His abundant provision. Are you willing to depend on Him starting today? Pray with Pastor Tong 
Lord, we thank you because you are faithful and abundant. You promise to become our shepherd and provider, so we once again bring our needs before you. Help us to be delivered from the bondage of money, and from fears and worries. Let us solely look upon you and trust in you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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